MILKWORT.— Po%f//r^ vulgaris. 



Class DiADELPHiA. Order Octaxdrta. Nat. Orel. Polygalkb, 

 Milkwort Trebe. 



This pretty plant is one which is very fre- 

 quent on dry hilly pastures, where, in ^lay, 

 June, and July, its crested blossoms form 

 patches of a deep blue, purple, pink or white 

 tint. Some of its old names record usages of 

 days long past, for it is the Rogation flower 

 of the older ^Titers, and is still called Gang 

 flower in the rural districts of the northern 

 counties of England. In the early periods of 

 our country's history, the Rogation week was 

 called also Gang week, from the old Saxon 

 verb gajfg, signifying to go, a word with which 

 many an old Scottish ballad makes us familiar. 

 It was an ancient custom in country parishes 

 for the clergyman, accompanied by his church- 

 wardens and parishioners, to walk around the 

 boundaries of the parish at this season, when 

 the children of the charity schools carried a 

 long pole decked with a profusion of flowers, 

 among which, as we must infer from its old 

 names, our ^lilkwort was one especially in 



